Halftime Stats and Observations

By David Scott - November 29, 2006

CHESTNUT HILL, Mass. - Hang Time has to admit our surprise at the Eagle's 26-18 halftime lead. BC has out-rebounded the Spartans 21-15 and equalled the beefy Spartans in paint-scoring (14 for each).

MSU's leading scorer Drew Neitzel (17.7 ppg) has been held scoreless in the first half, while Jared Dudley paced the Eagles with 13 points and six rebounds.

BC has managed 11 points of the 11 State turnovers and MSu has turned nine BC turns into five points. Maybe the most telling stat of the half is BC scoring half of its points off second-chance opportunities (10 of the Eagle's 21 renounds have been on the offesnive end). State has just four offensive boards.

. . . Neither team shot the ball particularly well as MSU was at 35 percent (8-for-23) and BC was at 36 percent (11-for-31). BC hit just 2 of 10 form 3-point land and MSU was 0 for 4.

. . . If Michigan State is to comeback in this one, first and foremost, Neitzel needs to score and the football mentality that usually envelopes an Izzo team, must come to the fore.

. . . Michigan State has trailed twice at the half this season, against Maryland and Texas, coming back to win the latter by a deuce.

. . . Basketball Bob Ryan of the Boston Globe stopped by the Hang Time perch to rave about his favorite BC Eagle, Jared Dudley, who Ryan calls the best forward in the school's history. If Basketball Bob says it, I believe it.